King and Empire Alliance | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | KEA |
| Founded | 1920; 105 years ago (1920) |
| Dissolved | 1926; 99 years ago (1926)[1] |
| Headquarters | Sydney,New South Wales, Australia[2] |
| Newspaper | King and Empire[3][4] |
| Membership(1922) |  <10,000[5] |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Right-wing[8] |
| Colours | Blue |
| Slogan | “For King and Empire” |
| Union Jack | |
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| Part ofa series on |
| Conservatism in Australia |
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TheKing and Empire Alliance (KEA) was an Australianconservative-monarchist political organisation that operated in the early 1920s. Originally established as theUnited Loyalist Executive (ULE) (a coalition of loyalist leagues and patriotic societies inQueensland)[9] around 1919, the organisation changed its name to theKing and Empire Alliance in mid-1919 before being formally launched on 19 August 1920 at theSydney Town Hall.[a] The KEA's founding was attended by manyconservative politicians and prominent military figures, and backed byThe Sydney Morning Herald.[11] Described as being founded “amidst scenes of extraordinary enthusiasm”,[12] BritishBrigadier generalJohn Vaughan Campbell said the KEA was “very much on the lines” of the “Fascisti movement inItaly.”[12] Having a peak membership around 10,000 in 1922,[7] its strongest support came from ruralNew South Wales.[5]
The KEA's goal was to 'prevent the spread of disloyal doctrines, to counteract and destroy the malign influence of disloyalists, and to build up and maintain a healthy national sentiment for the consolidation of theEmpire, and for the advancement of our ownCommonwealth.'[5]
The KEA received intrigue, praise and endorsement from various political and military figures, includingFirst Sea Lord of the AdmiraltyJohn Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe while visitingAustralia to promote closer Imperial bonds (1919);[13]Prime Minister of the United KingdomDavid Lloyd George, who said he was 'greatly interested to learn of the work of the King and Empire Alliance' (1920);[14] andMajor generalGranville Ryrie whom announced he was 'cordially in favour of the movement' (1920).[14]
